Bahia, Salvador and the Northeast has a very diverse culture, history and religion and architecture within Brazil and has the most typical popular cultural manifestations as well as music.
Northeastern culture is quite diverse as it has been influenced by indigenous, African and European people. Customs and traditions often vary from state to state.
As the North-East was the first region effectively colonised by the Portuguese, back in the 16th century, who found the native populations there and were accompanied by Africans brought as slaves, the North-East culture is quite particular and typical, although extremely varied.
It is Luso-Brazilian based, with strong African influences, especially on the coast from Pernambuco to Bahia and in Maranhão, and Amerindian, especially in the semi-arid sertão
The cultural wealth of the north-east region is visible beyond its folkloric and popular manifestations.
Literature from the Northeast has made a great contribution to the Brazilian literary scene, with names such as João Cabral de Melo Neto, José de Alencar, Jorge Amado, Nelson Rodrigues, Rachel de Queiroz, Gregório de Matos, Clarice Lispector, Graciliano Ramos, Ferreira Gullar and Manuel Bandeira, among many others, standing out.
In the literature of the Northeast we can mention the popular cordel literature which dates back to the colonial period (cordel literature came with the Portuguese and has its origins in the European Middle Ages) and numerous artistic manifestations of a popular nature which manifest themselves orally, such as the singers of repentes and embolada.
Afoxé Filhos de Gandhy, in Salvador, Bahia.
In classical music, Alberto Nepomuceno and Paurillo Barroso stand out as composers, as does Liduíno Pitombeira from Ceará, and Eleazar de Carvalho as a maestro.
Northeastern rhythms, songs and melodies also inspired composers like Heitor Villa-Lobos (whose Brazilian Bachiana No. 5, for example, in its second part – Dança do Martelo – alludes to the backlands of Cariri).
In the popular music of the North-East, rhythms such as coco, xaxado, agalopado martelo, samba de roda, baião, xote, forró, Axé and frevo, among others, stand out.
The Armorial movement in Recife, inspired by Ariano Suassuna, did an erudite job of valuing this popular Northeastern rhythmic heritage (one of its best-known exponents is the singer Antônio Nóbrega).
Dance in the North-East includes maracatu, practised in various parts of the North-East, frevo (characteristic of Pernambuco), bumba-meu-boi, xaxado, various variants of forró, tambor-de-crioula (characteristic of Maranhão), etc.
The folk songs are almost always accompanied by dances.
Handicrafts in the Northeast are also a relevant part of the cultural production of the Northeast, and are even the livelihood of thousands of people throughout the region.
Due to the regional variety of handicraft traditions, it is difficult to characterise them all, but the highlights are the hammocks woven and, sometimes, embroidered with many details; the products made in clay, wood (for example, from the carnauba, a typical tree from the sertão) and leather, with very particular features; as well as the lace, which has gained prominence in the handicraft of Ceará.
Another highlight are the bottles with images made manually in coloured sand, an article produced for sale to tourists. In Maranhão, handicrafts made from buriti fibre (a palm tree) stand out, as do handicrafts and products made from babaçu (a palm tree native to Maranhão).
Caboclinho de lança of the Rural Maracatu. The spear caboclo is one of the symbols of Pernambuco culture.
The cuisine of the Northeast is varied, reflecting, almost always, the economic and productive conditions of the various geo-economic landscapes of this region.
Seafood and fish are widely used in the cuisine of the coast, while in the sertão, recipes using meat and derivatives of cattle, goats and sheep predominate. Even so, there are several regional differences, both in the variety of dishes and the way they are prepared (for example, in Ceará, there is mostly mugunzá – also called macunzá or mucunzá – salty, while in Pernambuco, sweet predominates).
In Bahia, the main dishes are those made with dendê oil and shrimp, such as moquecas, vatapá, acarajé and bobós; however, foods accompanied by pirão, such as mocotó and rabada, and sweets like cocada, are no less appreciated.
In Maranhão, the highlights are cuxá, cuxá rice, bobó, stone fish and shrimp pie, all in the Maranhão style.
Also in Maranhão, the soft drink Jesus or Guaraná Jesus is a Maranhão heritage.
The bolo-de-rolo is the intangible heritage of Pernambuco. Some typical foods of the region are: the baião-de-dois, the carne-de-sol, the queijo de coalho, the vatapá, the acarajé, the panelada and the buchada, the canjica, the feijão and arroz de coco, the feijão verde and the sururu, as well as several sweets made of papaya, pumpkin, orange, etc. Some regional fruits – not necessarily native to the region – are ciriguela, cajá, buriti, cajarana, umbu, macaúba, the Maranhão fruits juçara, bacuri, cupuaçu, buriti, murici and pitomba, besides others also common in other regions.
Northeastern Culture
Culture, History and Religion in Salvador, Bahia and the Brazilian Northeast
The architectural complex of the town of Monte Santo in Bahia has great scenic and symbolic beauty, combining natural and cultural heritage, and is one of the greatest landmarks of religious movements in the Northeast — one of Brazil’s “montes sacros” (holy mountains, a place of devotion located on the […]
European architecture has had several architectural styles that have changed slowly over the centuries. Unlike other styles, such as fashion or furniture design, building styles change much more slowly over the centuries. However, the architectural style of a building can also tell us its time of origin. Chronology of European […]
Tourist destinations in the Northeast of Brazil are renowned for their natural and cultural diversity, offering a perfect combination of paradisiacal beaches, lush landscapes, and rich historical heritage. The culture of the Northeast is one of the richest and most diverse in Brazil, with a vibrant mix of indigenous, African, […]
Northeastern cuisine has been directly influenced by the socio-economic factors of the region. The dishes have characteristics of Portuguese cuisine, known during the colonial period; African culture, absorbed at the time of slavery; and indigenous food, inherited from the native population. The recipes generally include vegetables, beef and goat meat, […]
Northeastern music includes rhythms such as coco, xaxado, martelo agalopado, samba de roda, baião, xote, forró, Axé and frevo, among other rhythms. The armorial movement in Recife, inspired by Ariano Suassuna, did an erudite job of valuing this popular rhythmic heritage from the northeast (one of its best-known exponents is […]
Northeastern culture is very diverse, as it has been influenced by indigenous peoples, Africans and Europeans. Customs and traditions often vary from state to state. Having been the first region to be effectively colonized by the Portuguese, back in the 16th century, who encountered the native populations there and were […]
From the arrival of the Portuguese colonizers in 1500 until Brazil’s independence, many important events marked the history of Brazil. The historical events were recorded by the works of art of painters Oscar Pereira da Silva, Victor Meirelles, Jean-Baptiste Debret, Manuel José de Araújo and Pedro Américo. Main historical facts […]
The first mass in Brazil, held on 26 April 1500, just four days after the Portuguese landed in Porto Seguro, was depicted by Victor Meirelles between 1859 and 1861, while the artist was living in Paris. The painting was inspired by the letter written by Pero Vaz de Caminha to […]
Jean-Baptiste Debret (1768-1848) was a French painter, draughtsman and lithographer, recognised for documenting life in Brazil between 1816 and 1831. He was one of the main members of the French Artistic Mission, a group of artists who came to Brazil at the invitation of Dom João VI. The mission had […]
Baroque architecture is an important part of Western history and has unique characteristics that marked the urbanisation of Europe and are also present in Brazil. The first signs of Baroque architecture can be found in works from the early 16th century, but it wasn’t until the end of this period […]
When the Portuguese colonisers arrived in the south of Bahia in 1500, the Brazilian coastal lands were occupied by Tupi Guarani Indians. On the coast of Bahia, two large groups of the Tupi nation predominated: tupiniquins and tupinambás. The first group, the Tupiniquins, inhabited the strip from Camamu to Espírito […]
The Folk Art of Northeast Brazil of Brazil reflects the extension of its territory and the diversity of its culture and some types of work are found, with small variations, in all states. While relying on tradition, the popular art of the Northeast discovers new languages, techniques and materials: the […]
Lampião, the emblematic figure of the cangaço, is often portrayed as a visionary, fearless and cunning warrior, but this heroic image has been increasingly questioned by contemporary historians. Virgulino Ferreira da Silva, the man behind the myth, not only orchestrated robberies and kidnappings, but also cultivated a scenario of extreme […]
Graciliano Ramos made a mark on Brazilian literature with his works depicting the life of Northeastern men in the sertão. The writer was part of the 2nd phase of modernism, which had regionalism as its main characteristic. Raquel de Queiroz, Jorge Amado and José Lins do Rego were some of […]
The subsoil of the northeastern hinterland holds many treasures. Among them are emeralds, taken from mines that are up to 150 metres deep. There are also natural caves, where researchers have found fossils of prehistoric animals and traces of Brazil’s ancient inhabitants. The underground labyrinths of the sertões stretch for […]
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South America, from the 16th century on, was interpreted by the conquistadors not only through words, but also through images. However, it was only after the Dutch invasion invasion in Northeast Brazil, between 1630 and 1654, that European artists with solid technical training, still built along the lines of the […]
The art of tile-making took root in the Iberian Peninsula under the influence of the Arabs, who brought the unknown mosaics to their conquered lands to decorate the walls of their palaces, giving them brilliance and ostentation through a complex geometric play. The style fascinated Spaniards and Portuguese, and Iberian […]
The colors of the facades of houses and buildings preserve the identity of Northeastern colonial architecture. Many houses, buildings, and especially churches, monasteries, squares, and streets, date back to the time when Brazil was predominantly colonized by Portuguese. Additionally, several other peoples, such as Dutch, Jews, English, French, Arabs, Spanish, […]
King Momo, Pierrô, Arlequim and Colombina are the best known and most traditional characters of Carnival and are present at parties and in marchinhas. The multicoloured costumes of these figures gave rise to the costumes used in the dances of carnival and are some of the ingredients of the joy […]
.There are several versions about the origin of the word Carnival. In the Milanese dialect, Carnevale means “the time when the use of meat is taken away”, since Carnival is properly the night before Ash Wednesday. In Brazil, the event is the biggest manifestation of popular culture, next to football. […]
The northeast region is very rich in rhythms and musical styles. Because it is a place with very diverse customs among the northeastern states, several rhythms and musical styles have been created and adopted so that no one can stand still! That the Northeast is a region very rich in […]
Maracatu Rural is a traditional cultural expression that stands out in the town of Nazaré da Mata, located in the state of Pernambuco, Brazil. Originating in the rural region of Pernambuco, Maracatu Rural is a variation of Maracatu, which is a form of Afro-Brazilian popular culture encompassing music and dance. […]
In the Northeast of Brazil, both cordel literature and woodcuts play significant cultural roles and are deeply rooted in regional traditions. This symbiotic relationship between woodcuts and cordel literature not only embellishes the pamphlets, but also amplifies the cultural and educational impact of the stories told. While cordel texts offer […]
The accordion, also popularly called accordion and harmonica, is an aerophone musical instrument of German origin, made up of a bellows, free reeds and two wooden harmonic boxes. The 8-bass accordion is one of the founding instruments of forró, being the instrument that marked Luiz Gonzaga’s childhood and the basis […]
Although the June Festivals are celebrated in all four corners of Brazil, in the Northeast the festivities take on great expression. The June Festivals in the Northeast of Brazil are one of the country’s most traditional and eagerly awaited celebrations, deeply rooted in the region’s popular culture. These festivities, held in honour […]
Bilro lace and embroidery are one of the most traditional forms of handicraft in the north-east of Brazil, especially in Ceará. Bobbin lace is a source of income, distraction and a link between the women who mark the history of the Northeast and Morros da Mariana. The lace is present […]
Discover the trajectory and biography of Diógenes Rebouças, a notable Bahian architect. Explore his major works and his legacy in regional architecture. Diógenes Rebouças was, undeniably, the most renowned and influential architect in Bahia between the late 1940s and early 1960s. Biography of Diogenes Rebouças Diógenes de Almeida Rebouças (Diógenes […]
For many, the turban is a symbol of black culture and beauty, but this accessory, full of meanings and functions, is also widely used by people from the East. As well as being a symbol of identity and tradition for many African cultures, the turban also has a strong presence […]
Arquitetura Nordestina has baroque buildings erected by the sugar society mark the starting point of the long and diverse path taken by Northeastern architecture over five centuries. On the balconies of the sobrados of old São Salvador there are memories of maidens from the times of the emperor,” sang Dorival […]
The Iemanjá festival in Salvador de Bahia attracts thousands of Bahians and tourists who flock to the beaches of the Rio Vermelho on 2 February every year. Iyemanjá, Yemanjá, Yemaya, Iemoja, or Yemoja, is an African orisha, whose name derives from the Yoruba expression ‘Yèyé omo ejá’ (‘Mother whose children […]
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Salvador, Bahia, is one of the cradles of capoeira and offers many opportunities to see this martial art in its most authentic setting. The city is home to many renowned capoeira groups and historic sites where capoeira is regularly practised. The history of capoeira begins in the 16th century, when […]
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Salvador, the capital of Bahia, is one of the main destinations for religious tourism in Brazil, reflecting its rich historical and cultural heritage. Religious tourism in Salvador takes place in the more than 300 secular churches. It is often said in the city that there is a different church to […]
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